International Master's Programme in Political Science
MÄRSTA, SWEDEN – AUGUST 17: A row of political election posters on a metal fence along a street on a sunny day. Photo: Krister Hägglöf/Mostphotos
The programme combines professional preparation with state of the art courses in political science, and includes both compulsory and elective courses. All courses are advanced level courses, and are taught in English.
The first year of the programme consists of compulsory core courses and elective thematic specialisation courses. Each elective period offers the student a set selection of courses taught at the department. The number of seats for each course is limited. Programme students are allocated places according to admissions merit value.
The independent research project (the Master’s Thesis) is written during the third semester. The topic is developed in consultation with a supervisor. During the final semester students undertake a workplace internship, study abroad as an exchange student, or take courses selected in consultation with the Director of Studies.
Year 1
Semester 1
Period A & B
Analytical approaches in social science and studies of politics, in English
Period C
Students choose one of the following elective courses:
Populism and Democratic Politics
-> International Security Politics
Period D
Students choose one of the following elective courses:
Global and Regional Governance
National and Global Equality Policies: Goals and instruments
Political Economy
Semester 2
Period A
Period B
Students choose one of the following elective courses:
-> Democratization and Autocratization
International Political Theory
Global Climate and Environmental Politics
Period C & D
Year 2
Semester 3
Period A-D
Independent research project in Political Science
Semester 4
Period A-D
During the fourth semester students on the International master’s programme in political science are offered the course “Professional internship in Political Science” 15, 22.5 or 30 credits.
See below for more information about internship within the programme:
Internship within the International master’s programme in political science
Admission to the International Master's Programme in Political Science is done once a year, for the autumn semester. All applications are to be submitted electronically through universityadmissions.se (English) or antagning.se (Swedish).
If the university where you gained your Bachelor’s degree does not implement the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), alongside your academic transcript you will need to submit a statement detailing how the credit system from the university in question corresponds to the ECTS. The statement should contain the following information:
- Your personal information
- The name of your degree
- How many credits within your university’s system equals 1, 10 and 30 ECTS
- If applicable, how many credits a semester of full-time studies entail at the university which issued your Bachelor’s degree, stated both in credits of the original system, and in ECTS
The statement should be signed and stamped by an official person at your degree issuing university, such as a study counsellor, administrator, Director of Studies etc.
Please note that all parts of the application must be submitted directly to universityadmissions.se or antagning.se. No documentation should be sent to the department. Please also observe that applications to this programme should not include your Bachelor’s Thesis, a statement of relevant work and/or research experience, or a motivation letter.
The Master's programme is only open for admission in the international admission's round.
The general requirement to study a Master's programme in Sweden is a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, corresponding to at least 180 credits in the European Credit Transfer System.
The specific requirement for the International Master's Programme in Political Science is a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with at least 90 ECTS credits in Political Science, and English B/English 6, or equivalent.
We make a selection among the eligible applicants. The selection of students is based on grades of academic courses.
For detailed information about the selection process, see this attachment pdf, 166.1 kB..
If you have questions about the admissions process or the general eligibility, please contact University Admissions, or the Admissions Office at Stockholm University (study@su.se).
If you have questions about the specific requirements, the selection process or the programme, please contact master@statsvet.su.se.
A Master’s degree in Political Science opens up a wide range of career opportunities in Sweden and internationally. Graduates work in public administration, international organisations, NGOs, consultancy firms and the private sector, in roles that involve policy development, analysis, research and strategic advice.
The Department of Political Science’s 2025 alumni survey illustrates the breadth of these opportunities. Alumni hold positions such as Policy Officer, Political Adviser, Policy Analyst, Investigator, Senior Adviser, Project Manager, Project Coordinator and Research Associate.
Alumni work in a wide range of organisations, including government agencies and public authorities; municipal and regional government; international organisations and institutions; NGOs and civil society organisations; universities and research organisations; consultancy firms and private companies. These examples illustrate the breadth of professional environments in which graduates apply their knowledge of politics, governance and public policy.
The survey also highlights promising employment outcomes: 95% of respondents were currently working, and 73% reported finding their first job within four months of graduation. Analysis and investigation were the most frequently reported job responsibilities, cited by 75% of respondents, followed by research (38%) and advisory work (35%).
The skills developed through the programme are directly relevant to these professional roles. In the survey, 90% of respondents identified critical analysis and evaluation of information as relevant to their current work, while 85% highlighted academic writing and 75% identified knowledge of scientific methods. These skills prepare graduates to assess complex issues, develop evidence-based recommendations and communicate findings clearly across a range of professional settings.
The programme also provides a strong foundation for further academic studies, including doctoral research in Political Science and related fields.
Student counsellor
master@statsvet.su.se
